The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-23
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON.

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON.
1t was in October, 1920, that Audubon
started from Cincinnati with an expedi-
ton which had been sent out to make a
survey Of the Mississippi River. He was
furnished with letters of recommends
ton from General Harrison and Henry
Clay and had in mind long excur-
sion through the Southern States, which
was to include Mississippi, Alabama,
Florida and Arkansas. Captain Cum
minis was at the head of the surveying
party. The journey from Cincinnati to
the mouth of the Ohio was made in fiat
boat and occupied fourteen days.
Arriving at Natchez, Audubon made
this town his headquarters for time and
received much kindness there. Mr.. Ber-
thoud, relative, resided here, and did
much to make his stay pleasant. Natchez
seems to have delighted the naturalist,
not less on account OF its beautiful en-
virons and the abundance of its bird
life, than by it's size, it then having 5000
inhabitants.
Although his surroundings we're in
many respects pleasant, he was greatly
troubled by the lack Of funds, for he had
been unable to collect money which was
due him &C Cincinnati, and was really
penniless. An incident which occurred
here, shows how reduced were his for
tues. 1t happened that his shoes and
those of his companions, were worn out,
and neither of the two had money enough
to purchase new pair. Audubon stop
ped at ehoemaker's and stated the case,
informing him that they were without
money, but offering to sketch portraits
of the shoemaker and his wife in return
for two pairs of boots. The offer was
accepted, and in short time the por-
traits were finished, and the travellers
we're furnished with the new foot gear.
Some time in December, 1920, the nat
uralist left Natchez for New Orleans in
keel boat with Mr.. Berthoud, in tow of
steamer. Here, by an unlucky accident,
portfolio OF his precious drawings was
left behind, and it caused much anxiety,
but the prompt dispatch of letters to
Natchez resulted in it's recovery, and on
his arrival at New Orleans he found the
portfolio awaiting him there. The voyage
down the Mississippi was full of charms
for the naturalist, and he writes of it in
most enthusiastic terms.
Upon reaching New Orleans he at once
set out to find work, but at first without
success. At length, however, he was for
tunate enough to obtain an order for a
portrait from we'll known citizen OF
New Orleans, and this proving a good
likeness he received number of orders,
which at once put him in funds, and en-
abled him to give some time to his favor
tie pursuits. He obtained a number of
new birds here.
In March he learned of the conclusion
of the treaty between Spain and the
United Estates, by which considerable
portion of the Southwest was coded to
the latter nation, and hearing that an
expedition was to leave Natchitoches
next year to survey the boundary line, he
determined to try to obtain permission to
accompany it as naturalist and draughts-
man. He therefore wrote to Mr.. Mon
roe, who was then President, asking for
this appointment, but received no reply.
Audubon remained in New Orleans until
June of 1921, and his lie there YVES one
of ups and down. Sometimes he was
penniless, and at others had enough for
his wants. He started to return to his
family in Kentucky on the 18th OF June,
but while on his way up the river he ac-
cepted the position OF instruction in
drawing to the daughter of Mr.. Perrie,
who owned plantation at Bayou Sara,
in Louisiana. Here his duties were very
light, and a considerable portion of his
time was occupied in roaming the woods
looking out for new birds. The time
passed pleasantly. just about year
after his departure from Cincinnati, he
left Bayou Sara for New Orleans. Here
he T6ubct Il uOubo oout W A0ubuChy
for his family. In an entry in his jour
nal October %, he gives a statement of
what he has accomplished during the
year. He says: "Since left Cincinnati,
October II, 1920, have finished sixty
two drawings of birds and plants, three
quadrupeds, two snakes, fifty portraits of
all sorts, and have subsisted by my hum
BILE talents, not having dollar when I
started sent draft to my wife, and
began life in New Orleans with forty
two dollars, health and much anxiety to
pursue my plan of collecting all the
birds of America"
In December Mrs. Audubon and her
children reached New Orleans, and the re
union of the family after fourteen months
of separation was great delight to all of
them. But now once more, money
troubles began to Cypress the natural
ist, and before long his affairs became SO
desperate that Mrs. Audubon took pupils
to help matters along. In March her hus-
band determined TO return to Natchez,
where he believed his prospects for OBJ